CNBC
Compiled by
Matthew J. Belvedere and Peter Schacknow
IN THE NEWS TODAY
U.S. stock futures were searching for direction ahead of this morning's June employment report and Greece's bailout referendum Sunday. Wall Street got off to a positive July start Wednesday. The stock market is closed Friday in observance of the 4th of July holiday. (CNBC)
Greek debt negotiations were called off until Sunday's vote on the financial rescue terms demanded by creditors, after a day of conflicting reports and dashed expectations. (CNBC)
A defiant Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is urging Greeks to reject the aid package-assuring them that voting "no" Sunday would not mean a euro zone exit. (CNBC)
Debt-strapped Puerto Rico paid all of its $1.9 billion in obligations due on Wednesday, sources told CNBC, which helped the commonwealth avoid sinking further into financial crisis.
Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has announced plans to give away his $32-billion fortune to charity in order to build a "better world of tolerance, acceptance, equality and opportunity for all." (CNBC)
U.S. health insurer Centene (CNC) has agreed to buy Health Net (HNT) for $6.3 billion in cash and stock to bolster its position as a manager of government health insurance programs. (Reuters)
PayPal, ahead of its spinoff from eBay (EBAY), has agreed to buy digital money transfer provider Xoom (XOOM) for $890 million, in an effort to expand internationally. (Reuters)
Tesla (TSLA) delivered 11,507 Model S electric cars in the second quarter, a new company record for the most vehicles in a quarter and about a 52 percent increase over the year-ago period. (CNBC)
The Justice Department is investigating whether airlines are colluding to grow at a slower pace as part of an effort to keep airfares high. For its part, United Airlines (UAL) said it's fully complying. (AP)
The co-CEOs of Whole Foods (WFM) apologized in a YouTube video to their customers, after an investigation by New York regulators revealed the grocery chain was overcharging in city stores. (NBC News)
More than 5,000 residents were evacuated after a freight train carrying a "highly flammable and toxic gas" partly derailed and caught fire early this morning just outside Knoxville, Tennessee. (NBC News)
BY THE NUMBERS
In addition to the June jobs report, out at 8:30 a.m. ET, investors get, at 10 a.m. ET, factory orders for May. The numbers are expected to drop 0.5 percent after a 0.4 percent decline in April.
Family Dollar (FDO) late Wednesday reported earnings that were below estimates and revenue that matched forecasts. Family Dollar said it experienced higher costs ahead of the planned acquisition by rival Dollar Tree (DLTR).
STOCKS TO WATCH
BP (BP) could be the topic of conversation at simultaneous news conferences in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida this morning. Reports say the events relate to the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Accenture (ACN) sold its Navitaire unit to Spanish travel technology provider Amadeus for $830 million. Minneapolis-based Navitaire provides technology services to about 50 airlines.
Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) has officially filed the paperwork to execute its planned November split into two companies. The SEC filing gives financial details of the two businesses it will be creating.
The Justice Department sued to block General Electric's (GE) deal to sell its appliances unit to Sweden's Electrolux, whose CEO said this morning he's cautiously optimistic the $3.3 billion sale will go through.
